“This is a big win for us, a big one,” said Reese, whose team improved to 4-1. “It was their homecoming and to come out and win, this is a big confidence booster. We came in knowing if we played our game we could do exactly what we just did.”

Reese finished with 307 yards of total offense, just 15 fewer than Hanover Park had as a team, while connecting on scoring plays of 37, 23, 59, and 48 yards.

“He’s a huge weapon for our offense,” receiver Tyler Jones said. “We have so many weapons on offense that we can run it and pass it. If you try to double one of our guys we’ll just go to someone else.”

Jones finished as his team's leading receiver with three receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns. He says the success displayed on the field on Fridays is a direct result of the chemistry he and Reese have worked to develop in practice.

“We’ve been working on that since Day 1,” Jones said. “We’re really on the same page. We need to just keep going and moving ahead and face our next opponent.”

After starting slow over the last few weeks, Jefferson head coach Joe Mattessich put an emphasis in practice on starting hot.

His team adhered.

Jefferson jumped in front by nine at the end of the first quarter and went into the half leading, 16-3.

“We knew we couldn’t start slow against a team of this caliber,” Mattessich said. “We knew we had to start fast. We came out from the beginning and the kids did what they are coached to do. They really took it to them on both sides of the ball.”

With Reese picking apart the Hanover Park defense, Jefferson’s defense took advantage of an offense missing one of its biggest playmakers.

Hanover Park quarterback Matt Hoberman, who entered the game with 603 passing yards and four touchdowns, was lost on the final drive of the first half with an apparent leg injury.

Junior Christian Bassolino replaced Hoberman and finished 12-of-24 for 160 yards with a touchdown and interception.

“Our defense stepped up big today,” Jones said. “The last few games we’ve been a little shaky but today we played really good.”

Jefferson now turns its attention to its date next week with Madison, which is fresh off a 21-7 victory over North Warren.

Two weeks ago Madison had its 39-game winning streak ended by Hanover Park, and Mattessich says the team it will be facing next Friday is more motivated than ever.

“We need to come out how we came out tonight, we can’t come out slow against a team like that,” Mattessich said. “They are a very physical team, they beat us up last year. We need to control the line of scrimmage and control the game. Do what you’re taught to do and do what you’re coached to do.”

For Reese, he sees Madison as just another obstacle in what he hopes is a championship course.

“Coach said it and we all feel the same,” Reese said. “We have a big mountain to climb, it’s a long journey. But with this team, all of us, we’re all ready to climb it.”